A Flemish carved walnut figure of Saint Catherine, circa 1480. - image-1

Lot 1545 Dα

A Flemish carved walnut figure of Saint Catherine, circa 1480.

Auction 956 - overview Cologne
15.05.2010, 00:00 - Steinmetz Collection
Estimate: 30.000 € - 35.000 €
Result: 108.000 € (incl. premium)
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A Flemish carved walnut figure of Saint Catherine, circa 1480.

With remains of former polychromy, a small vertical crack to the reverse. Minor wear. .
A small vertical crack on the reverse. Minor wear. Height 110 cm.

A standing, full-figure depiction of the crowned saint designed for a frontal and slightly lowered viewpoint. She wears a fitted white jerkin over a pleated blouse and a floor-length dress. Her red cloak is lain over her right shoulder and she holds the sides of it pressed to her body beneath her arms, forming rich cascades of folds over the sides of the otherwise block-like figure. The Saint's long hair falls in finely carved curls down her back. By way of attributes she holds a book in her right hand and would have held a sword in her left, but this is now lost. To her feet we see a depiction of a broken wheel and the tiny figure of Emperor Maxentius, referring to her martyrdom.

Provenance

1930 acquired from Louis Heilbronner, Munich.

Literature

Alte Skulpturen aus Privatbesitz. Ausstellung im Museum Folkwang Essen 1933, p. 6 and 12, cat. no. 22 illustrated. - 50 Jahre Museum Folkwang in Essen. Freunde des Museums sammeln. Ausstellung im Museum Folkwang Essen 1972, p. 16-17, cat. no. 8, illustrated.